Carmen (Connie/Conn) Louise Johnson

"What a Wonderful Life"

We don't have tomorrow.

But we had yesterday.

Wasn't it me who said that

Nothing good's gonna last forever?

And wasn't it me who said let's just be glad

for the time together?"

(Dianna Ross)

Wednesday, October 14, 1942, Carmen (Connie) Louise Jordan was born in Denver, Colorado, to parents Fred and Vivienne Jordan. Born into a world that contained several challenges, one in particular being Connie's vision, she lived under the ward of Robert and Katherine Quarles for a while during her young years. In 1952 when Connie was ten years of age, Mrs. Lessie B. Wright ( later, Bonner) adopted her into the Phason-Bonner family. Connie was much younger than all of Lessie's children and often felt more like a niece to Horace, Oliver, Jessie Bell, Travis, Dorothy and Jesse Eugene. Connie matured from a withdrawn and sheltered child into an average teenager of the 1950s, engaging in social activities such as the Union Missionary Baptist Church Youth Choir and she was also a part of the Baptist Training Union (BTU), having been baptized by Rev Dr. John T. Walker.

Connie was educated in Denver Public Schools, attending 24th & Arapahoe Elementary, Cole Junior High, and Manual and Denver Opportunity High schools. She excelled in reading and spelling despite having visual challenges. As she grew into her young womanhood and independence, Connie decided that organized schooling wasn't meeting her needs. Therefore, Connie received her GED at age eighteen so she could pursue other interests. Connie received her certificate from Colorado Department of Health as a CNA, a Long Term Care Clinical and Acute Care Clinical professional, Nursing Assistant and Medical Central Supply.

"The colors of the rainbow

So pretty in the sky, are also on the faces

of people going by.

I see friends shaking hands

Saying, how do you do?

They're really saying I love you"

(Louis Armstrong)

On Connie's sixteenth birthday, October 14, 1958, her brother Jesse and his wife had the first of three sons that Connie would love as her darling brothers as they too, would soon join the home of Lessie and Mr. Lukie B. Bonner, her husband. Connie loved her brothers Travis, Mickey, and Vernon, and did such big sister things with them as going to the Denver Zoo, the YumYum Tree, and Celebrity's Sports Center to bowl or see a movie. Doting on her brothers was something she really enjoyed doing, carting them around the city in a cab or on the city bus to have fun.

Soon Connie would have her first child, Pam, who would now be the newest center of attention in this family who hadn't had a baby girl in what felt like forever.

Connie's nephews who were more like brothers now had a little niece to dote on and look over, just like Connie had done with them. The entire family actually joined in and helped if not for all intents and purposes took over the rearing of Connie's baby and this trend did not stop when she birthed her son Kenneth Ray, just five short years later. Over the years, Connie and her baby brother Vern grew extremely close, sharing discussions and brother and sister enigmas. Connie and Vern were together almost every day in the mid 70's. Vern brother James Penson Jr. would take Connie to work or to the store. Vern and James would place Connie between them in the front seat of their 1973 Ford Custom 500 as they traveled to and from. As they drove down the street a song would come on the radio and Vern and James would jump out of the car and dance in the middle of the street. Connie would drop her face in her hands laugh and say I got to get to work or wherever her designation may have been. Elinor was the affectionate name Vern called Connie. After failed relationships in her life, Baby Brother cited, you need to be the wife to the US president; hence I'm calling you Elinor.

"Walking through life dancing,

to its melody of ups and downs,

holding on to precious memories

while creating new ones"

"The Song Remembers When." (Trisha Yearwood.)

Way before the Internet and social media, Connie wrote letters to her loved ones and would always put on the back of the envelope "D-Liver, D-Letter, D-Sooner, D-Better."

Perhaps it was such love letters that caused Connie to capture the heart of one Jimmy Johnson. "Jim" and Connie had a daughter together, Debra. Immediately Debbie became the joy of the family. Everyone couldn't wait to hold, play, and pamper her. This time will be different for Jimmy was a man's man who took care of his family and responsibility. While Connie and Debbie still lived in the family home, Jimmy still made time to see them, pick Debbie up every weekend, and also include Pam and Kenneth on these visits, being a real father to all three kids. Their long courtship paid off and Jimmy and Connie were married Saturday, October 18, 1980. Their wedding was a family affair, marrying in the family home on Columbine Street, surrounded by all who loved and supported them: Jimmy's brother Bishop Frank Johnson conducted the ceremony, Tasha sang a song, Mickey gave Connie away, Pam was a junior bridesmaid, Ken was the ring bearer, and Deb was the flower girl, Vern the photographer, and the aunts cooked! Connie became a bonus mom to Jimmy's three sons Ronnie, Jimmy Jr, and Leonard Hoover, as Jimmy was a bonus dad to Pam and Ken. The two of them took the words "Til death do we part" to heart, rarely doing anything outside of work without the other, being as one for the next thirty-seven years, Connie and Jimmy were together.

"I'll leave something good behind, You sweet child of mine

You make my life worth living

And when all my earthly days are through

I'll leave here knowing

I Did what I came to do

And when I say goodbye

I know that I'll leave something good behind."

Barbara Mandrell.

Connie was known for being quiet, passive, and of simple delights and habits. Connie loved to read her favorite book "BattleField Earth" which she read more than a dozen times, but she also loved romance novels.  Watching daytime soap operas was another way Connie would spend her day. "The Guiding Light." The Edge of Night." And "as the World Turns" were a few of her choices. She also liked to scrapbook, organize and arrange family albums, and for a while made beautiful latch hook rugs to decorate her home with. Connie wasn't a cook until later in life; Connie's favorite food was McDonald's' cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla shake. Next, spaghetti and fried chicken. But of course "Black peoples' food" as Connie was fond of calling Soul food.

Connie cleaned the house like it was no one's business. She used to listen to the radio KIMN, a popular top 40 station on AM 950 back in the day while working. The station played everything from R&B to country. Her home was always clean, cozy, warm and welcoming, just like her.

When Connie received the diagnosis that she had a rare form of AML Leukemia, the doctors did not expect her to make it twelve months. Connie fought every day with a purpose, accepting that man could not predict what only God knew the appointed day and time to be.  She had been baptized again in 2004 at the New Hope Baptist Church by Rev. Dr. James T. Peters where Connie became a member. She did not quiver in fear but instead embraced her days on earth surrounded by her children and great-grandchildren, relishing in the role of being a MawMaw.

"I can see the family gather

Sweet faces, all familiar,

no one's old or feeble anymore

And my lonesome heart is cryin'

Think I'll spread my wings for flyin'

See I've never felt this homesick before."

(Jessy Dixson)

Sunday, Morning 6:15 March 28, 2021, Connie crossed that crystal river. Receiving her on the other side was her beloved (Jim) and their daughter Deb. Lukie B. and Lessie B. Bonner, Horace James,Travis James,  aunt Jessie Bell and uncle Chester Carpmton, aunt Dot and Bill Calhoun, Jesse E. Howard, Jr. and Jessie Mae Howard. Mickey E. Howard Sr.

Remaining in earthly form to cherish and meditate on their memories with Connie are her "Darling Girl" and eldest daughter Pamela D. Jordan and son Kenneth Long (Tamisha), bonus sons Ronnie, Jimmy Jr, and Leonard Hoover.  Granddaughters Dajiana Shaw, SunRay Nuels, Shayde, Sa'Nya, Zakiya, and her grandsons Darius Shaw, DeMarques Dennis, Kyree, Kanye, Jacob, and Dai'Shaun, plus her precious great-grandchildren Royal, Harmony, Anna Marie, Darius Jr, Ka'Darius, "Little" Kendrick, Kaloni, Zaniya. Marquevion, and Sa'Vea.  Siblings Tabitha Bonner, "Baby Brother" Vern L. Howard (Annie), Jade Jones (Robert) James Penson Jr. (Vanessa), Sister-in-law and best friend Cola Johnson, and a  host of nephews, nieces, and other family members, near and far.

"And now the end is here,

and so I face that final curtain,

My friend, I'll make it clear I'll state my case,

of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full.

("My Way")